Modulating relays



Nov. 3, 1959 R. P. DUBUSC 2,911,495

MODULATING RELAYS Filed June 17, 1958 Kflyz v v 1a lNVENTOR' TORNE)United States Patent MODULATING RELAYS Roger Pierre Dubusc, Saint-Cloud,France, assignor to Compagnie Pour la Fabrication des Compteurs atMaterial dUsines a Gaz, Montrouge-Seine, France, a corporation of FranceApplication June 17, 1958, Serial No. 742,674

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) The present invention relates to modulatingrelays.

It is well known in the art of modulating relays of theelectro-mecham'cal type that excitation by an alternating voltage of aknown value and frequency may activate a group of associated contactswhich may open and close in a fixed relationship with the phase of theexcitation voltage.

conventionally, the armature is constructed of soft iron, movablyenclosed, and magnetized by an electrical winding which may be polarizedby a magnet. The free extremity of the armature may contain an insulatedmember which actuates a group of contacts which is of thin resilientconstruction and has at its extremities, contact disks of variousmetallic composition or noble alloys of such composition to reduce orminimize oxidation.

One particular known construction utilizes a complex oscillating systemcontaining two or more elements which may be mechanically coupled toother associated elements and subjected individually to magnetic ormechan ical forces; and certain of these forces tend to restore theelements to the median position, while certain other forces tend to movethe elements in an opposing manner. The overall equilibrium of thesystem depends, in addition to these forces, on other differentialparameters which individually must be very constant in order that thesystem be stable.

The improvements forming the present invention have as their primaryobject substantially obviated these difficulties. They have the furtherobjective of permitting the realization of a modulating relay of simpleand economical construction and of great stability of operation.

These improvements are characterized in that the motor armature elementis aperiodicand can oscillate at the frequency of the voltage ofexcitation without superimposing any direct extraneous forces on themotor armature element. In other words, the mean position of theoscillatory element is indeterminate in a certain zone of its movement.I

In accordance'with one embodiment of the invention, the aperiodic motorarmature element is made up of a metallic armature framework forming aring in short circuit which can oscillate inside two arcuate openings ina magnetically polarized circuit formed by the alternating fieldproduced by a winding connected to the terminals of the voltage ofexcitation. This alternating field extends into the interior of thearmature framework and is perpendicular to the magnetic field ofpolarization. At the lower end of the spindle of the armature frameworkis affixed a support member, having at one end thereof an insulatingfinger which is positioned between two contact members, such as thinspring leaves or wires. Between these contact members there is placedlikewise a fixed block contact. When the dimension or diameter arepositioned in parallel relationship. These contact members arepreferably adjusted to exert at rest substantially the same forces ofpressure and movement on the fixed block contacts, such that the dynamicmovements of the elements of this system are brought back by forcesequal and opposite to the position of the elements when deviation occursin one direction or another. The oscillatory movement of the system isthus symmetrical with regard to the mean position of the contactmembers, wherein it will be appreciated that the duration of contactclosure is the same for each of the contact members.

The present invention will be better understood from the descriptionwhich follows and the drawings attached thereto, which description anddrawings are given as merely illustrative and without limitation of theuses to which the invention maybe applied.

Figure 1 represents in vertical cross section one embodiment of theinvention.

Figures 2 and'3 are horizontal cross sections of the embodiment ofFigure 1, taken along lines 22 and 33, respectively.

Referring to the figures, numeral 10 represents a magnetic circuitstructure comprised of a group of laminated iron plates or othermagnetic materials, such as ferrites, defining two semi-circular arcuateopenings 11 and 11'. This magnetic circuit structure is composed of twoparts, an outer laminated core 12 containing an interior cavity and aninner laminated core 13 of rectangular form, having at its centerportion an enlargement of circular form whose edges define one of thesides of the arcuate openings 11 and 11'. The inner core 13 is formed inits center area with an aperture 14, wherein passes freely the spindleor shaft 15 on which is fixed the armature framework 16. In one part ofthe cavity of the outer core 12 there is positioned two permanentmagnets 17 and 17' of parallelepipedal form and magnetized as indicatedon Figure 2.

One surface of each magnet is concave and circular, thus definingrespectively the other side of the arcuate openings 11 and 11, at theinterior of which the armature framework 16' can be displaced. Lateralto the inner core 13 and at the interior of the cavity of the outer core12 are positioned two electrically energizable windings or coilsprovided with terminals to be connected to a source of alternatingcurrent. These windings, 18 and 18', produce an alternating field whoselines of force in the inner core 13 are perpendicular to the fieldproduced by the permanent magnets 17 and 17', respectively. The magneticcircuit structure 10 and the windings 18 and 18' are kept in position bytwo magnetic supports 19 and 19' of soft iron, completing the magneticcircuit which is encased by two cylindrical rivets 20 and 20', havingsleeve members 21, 22, 23, 24, respectively, positioned around theextremities thereof. The magnetic supports 19 and 19' are provided withbearing mount openings in the centers thereof. These mount openings aretwo bearings 25 and 25 which cooperate with the end pins of the spindle15. On the lower part of the spindle 15 is aflixed a su port member 27.

In the illustrative example, one end of the support member 27 carries'aninsulating finger 28. The finger. 28 is positioned between the two leafcontact members 29 and 29', which advantageously may be rectilinear andparallel, as shown. Thesecontact members 29 and 29' are affixed to twocontact supports 30 and 30, respec tively, which are mounted on theterminals '31 and 31' of the base plate 33 in a manner analogousto thatutilized in vacuum tubes. Between the contact members 29 and 29', acontact block 32 is positioned. This contact block 32 is afiixed toanother terminal positioned on the base plate 33. A housing 34,constructed of soft iron,-iswe ded to'the base Plate 33.

The magnetic circuit structure, the moving armature framework assemblyand the arrangement of the contacts are hermetically and magneticallysealed Within the housing 34. This housing-34 may be filled with aninert gas, such as nitrogen, if desired. Hence, the making and breakingof the contacts between the contact members 29 and '29 on one part, andthe fixed contact block 32 on another part during the oscillatorymovement of insulating finger '28 occurs without oxidation of thecontact surfaces, which permits their proper functioning over longoperating periods of time.

This unique construction provides a system wherein the entire elementsof the modulating relay are hermetically sealed. This consideration isdue to the fact that the motor armature unit utilized in the presentinvention is in a state of rest and devoid of any counter-actingresilient forces. In addition, this complex oscillating system utilizesa moving armature framework without the use of guide members which are.generally used in conventional vibratory chopper-like system's.Furthermore, the contact assembly of the present invention exhibitsextremely low contact potential voltage, is perfectly balanced andstable and requires no further outside adjustment or external control.

The modulating relay of the oscillatory type of the present inventionfurther provides the unique construction wherein fatigue of the contactmembers is substantially absent, as characterized by the conventionalvibratory systems of the prior art. Furthermore, this system may operateat extremely high chopper frequencies, including a few thousands ofcycles per second, and still being capable of chopping very small valuesof direct current when being subjected to extremely high gravitationalforces experienced in aircraft and missile use.

I claim:

l. A modulating relay comprising in combination a hollow housing, anelectromagnetic oscillator positioned within said housing, saidoscillator including a laminated iron core defining-a'pair of opposedcentral cavities, a permanent magnet extending through each of saidcavities, a pair of spaced electrically energizable coils positionedwithin said cavities adjacent the magnets, said magnets, said coils, andsaid laminated core defining a pair of elongated arcuate apertures atthe center of-said core, a closed loop armature having a first pair ofopposed arms positioned in said arcuate apertures and a second pair ofopposed arms secured to a'rotatable spindle extending through the centerof said coresuch that such armature'is caused to oscillate within saidarcuate apertures in response to the energization of said coils, andelectrical contact members connected tosaid spindle and adapted to beactuated in response to the oscillation of'said armature and saidspindle.

2. A modulating relay comprising in combination an electromagneticoscillator including a laminated iron core defining a pair'of opposedcentral cavities, magnet means extending through each of said cavities,'a plurality of spaced-apart electrically energizable coils positionedwithin said cavities adjacent the magnet means, said magnet means, saidcoils and said laminated core defining a pair of apertures at'thecenter'of said core, a closed loop armature secured to arotatablespindle extending through the center of said core such thatsuch armature is caused to oscillate within said pair of apertures inresponse to the energization of said coils, and electrical contactmembers connected to said spindle and adapted to be actuated in responseto the oscillation of said armature and said spindle.

3. A modulating relay comprising an electromagnetic oscillatorincludinga laminated iron core defining a.

pair'of opposed central cavities, a pair of spaced-apart electricallyenergizable coils positioned within 'said cavities, a'permanent magnetin each cavity between said pair 'of coils, said magnets, said coils,and said laminated core defining a pair of elongated apertures at thecenter of said core, a closed loop armature having a first pair ofopposed arms positioned in said elongated apertures and a second pair ofopposed arms secured to a rotatable spindle extending through the centerof said core such that such armature is caused to oscillate within saidelongated apertures in response to the energization of said coils, anactuating member of insulating material secured to said spindleforoscillation therewith, and a plurality of electrical contacts adapted tobe actuated by said member in response to the oscillation of saidarmature and spindle upon energization of said coils.

4. A modulating relay in accordance with 'claim 1 wherein saidelectrical contacts comprise a pair of parallel, spaced apart, resilientfingers and a fixed metalliccontact positioned between said fingers andadapted for alternate contact therewith in accordance with theoscillation of said actuating member. a

5. A modulating relay comprising in combination a hollow housing, anelectromagnetic oscillator positioned within said housing, saidoscillator including a laminated iron core, a pair of spaced-apart,permanent magnets and a pair of spaced-apart electrically energizablecoils, said magnets, said coils and said laminated coredefining a pairof elongated arcuate apertures at the center of said core, a closed looparmature having a first pair of opposed arms positioned in said arcuateapertures and a second pair of opposed arms secured to a rotatablespindle extending through the center of said core such that sucharmature is caused to oscillate within said arcuate aperturesin'response to the energization of said coils, electricalcontact membersassociated with said spindle and adapted to be actuated in response tothe oscillation of said armature and said spindle, and an electricalterminalconnected to each contact member and extending outside of saidhousing for connection to a utilization device controlled by saidmodulating relay.

6. A modulating relay comprising the improvement of a first group oflaminated iron plates, each formed with a central opening to define aninterior cavity, a second group of laminated iron plates positionedwithin said interior cavity, a pair of spaced apart, electricallyenergizable coils positioned around the second group of laminated ironplates, a pair of magnets between said coils and adjacent oppositesurfaces of said second group of laminated iron plates, said magnets andsaid opposite sur faces being spaced from each other to define a pair ofopposed arcuate openings, a spindle rotatably positioned in an apertureextending through the center of said second group of laminated ironplates, a plurality of contacts disposed at one end of said spindle andadapted to be actuated by the rotation of said spindle, and a rotatablearmature fixed to said spindle for oscillationin said arcuate openingsin response to the energization of said coils, said rotatable armaturecomprising a closed'metallicloop having portions positioned within saidopposed armature openings and other portions secured to said-spindle. V

"7. A modulating relay comprising a fully enclosed hollow housinghavingpositioned therewithin a first group of laminated iron plates, eachformed'with acentralopening to define an interior cavity, a second groupof laminated iron plates positioned within said interior cavity, a pairof spaced-apart electrically energizable coils positioned around thesecond group of laminated'iron-plates; a pair of magnetsbetween saidcoils and adjacent-opposite surfaces of said second group of laminatedironplates, said magnets and said opposite surfaces being spaced'fromeach other to define a pair of'opposed arcuateopening-s, a spindlerotatably positioned in an aperture extending through-the center of saidsecond group oflaminated iron plates, and a rotatable armature fixed tosaid spindle for oscillation in said arcuate openings in response to theenergization of said coils. v V

'8.-A modulating relay in accordance with claim '5 wherein'saidrotatable armature comprises -a closed meltallie-loop havingportions-positioned. Withinsaid opposed I armature openings, and otherportions secured to said References Cited in the file of this patentspindle. v r

9. A modulating relay in accordance with claim 6 v UNI TED STATESPATENTS further comprising a plurality of contacts disposed at one2523966 Flschler 30; 1952 end of said spindle and adapted to be actuatedby the 5 2,694,119 Armitage 1954 rotation of said spindle and saidarmature. 2,825,784 Bengtsson et a1 1958

